MP38-13 CRYOPRESERVATION OF SMALL NUMBERS OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA USING AGAROSE-GEL MICROCAPSULES

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyInfertility: Basic Research & Pathophysiology (MP38)1 Apr 2020MP38-13 CRYOPRESERVATION OF SMALL NUMBERS OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA USING AGAROSE-GEL MICROCAPSULES Hiroshi Okada*, Toshiyuki Iwahata, Akiyoshi Osaka, and Yoshitomo Kobori Hiroshi Okada*Hiroshi Okada* More articles by this author , Toshiyuki IwahataToshiyuki Iwahata More articles by this author , Akiyoshi OsakaAkiyoshi Osaka More articles by this author , and Yoshitomo KoboriYoshitomo Kobori More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000000887.013AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of agarose gel microcapsules to cryopreserve extremely small numbers of sperm. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from 16 patients attending the male infertility clinic of the center for reproductive medicine at a university hospital. We used agarose micro capsules to cryopreserve extremely small numbers of sperm from 16 patients with male infertility (10 with sperm concentration ≥1 million/mL; 6 with sperm concentration <1 million/mL). Six spermatozoa were injected into agarose gel microcapsules and cryopreserved in a liquid nitrogen tank for 7 days. The Crytop method was used for cryopreservation as a control. After thawing, spermatozoa were recovered. Sperm recovery rates, motility and viability, and recovery time were compared. RESULTS: Investigation of samples with sperm concentration 1 million/mL or above Sperm recovery rate: 93% (279/300) for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly higher than the 86% (257/300) for the Cryotop method (P < 0.005).Sperm motility rate: 73% (219/300) for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly higher than the 51% (152/300) for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001).Sperm viability rate: 86% (258/300) for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly higher than the 65% (196/300) for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001).Sperm recovery time (mean ± SD): 3.56 ± 1.5 min for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly shorter than the 7.04 ± 3.2 min for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001). Investigation of samples with sperm concentration less than 1 million/mL Sperm recovery rate: 99% (179/180) for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly higher than the 83% (150/180) for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001).Sperm motility rate: 87% (157/180) for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly higher than the 69% (125/180) for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001).Sperm viability rate: 86% (258/300) for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly higher than the 65% (196/300) for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001).Sperm recovery time (mean ± SD): 2.97 ± 1.2 min for the agarose gel capsule method was significantly shorter than the 8.20 ± 2.9 min for the Cryotop method (P < 0.001). The results above showed that the post-thawing sperm recovery rate, sperm motility rate, and sperm viability rate were higher while the sperm recovery time was shorter in samples preserved using the agarose gel capsule method compared to samples preserved using the Cryotop method in both the group with sperm concentrations of 1 million/mL or above and the group with sperm concentrations of less than 1 million/mL. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that using the agarose gel capsule method increased post-thawing sperm recovery rate, sperm motility rate, and sperm viability rate, and reduced sperm recovery time compared with the conventional Cryotop method when cryopreserving samples with low sperm count. Thus, the agarose gel capsule method may be a promising treatment for male infertility. Source of Funding: Departmental. © 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 203Issue Supplement 4April 2020Page: e574-e574 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Hiroshi Okada* More articles by this author Toshiyuki Iwahata More articles by this author Akiyoshi Osaka More articles by this author Yoshitomo Kobori More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...